Cheers to the Bride + Groom's crew who have certainly seen us in our best and worst, and have still managed to stick around all these years to finally tell their side of the story. Thank you crew for simply being!
Acelya Lokmanhekim Guney
Eren and Selim are one of the most compatible love birds I've ever seen. Sometimes they are so compatible that it makes you question your own relationship :) Selim is that guy that dresses like he doesn't care yet particularly only buys shades of grey giving himself the color flare with crazy socks. Eren is the girl that believes Selim doesn't care and the one that keeps buying him those ridiculous socks. Hence the saga continues!!! Here’s to the cutest couple in the world.
Ahmet Yetis
It was a cold and chilly winter day in elementary school 22 years 3 months 8 days ago. Selim had a box cutter in his hand and told me he was going to cut my finger and was thirsty for blood. That was the day we became "blood brothers."
Congratulations my one and only blood brother. May the force be with you...
Alek Sonman
I met Selim 20 years ago on a bus trip to school. Even back then, he used to talk about Eren as the girl with whom he had the best time at summer camp. I only met her by coincidence during a math course later on, but I immediately knew she was "The Eren" Selim was always talking about. Time passed by and I met them as a 'couple' in London where we lived next door to each other as neighbours (one could call it sharing a flat!) for three years. During that time, they made a big impact on my life by just being who they are. I can say by experience that they will have a very happy future ahead of them so long as they keep me in their lives!
Love you guys and wish you the best!
Ariana Mouyiaris
I met Eren on the first day of our international orientation at Brown. An auspicious day as we were put in the same mentee group and immediately hit it off. Skipping out on activities to discover the glories of Thayer Street and a friendship that would transcend time (we've been friends for about 13 years now!) and space (from Providence to London - with a stop in New York and Turkey along the way)... I couldn't sum up our 'story' without stating that I met Selim within the first year of knowing Eren, THROUGH Eren. The resident bad-ass (if one can be in college!) along with his sidekick Alek. There were some hazy, relaxed days and the history of their friendship/knowing each other was something that helped make a friendship with Selim seamless and always enjoyable. I'm so glad that through the years I've gotten to know Selim and his character as well as one of my closest friends and after my first trip to Turkey, stating that, even though they were just friends, he really would be wonderful boyfriend/hubby material... seems I was right ;) and glad to say, I told you so!!!
I love you both so much and am so glad that you both have found a partner, love and best friend in each other.
Finally, finally you're being officially bound! Cannot wait to share it with you both.
Arzu Sak
Eren and Selim have become part of my family in London, when at first, Selim crashed on my couch, with garbage bags as his alternative to suitcases. Then I crashed in the Florence street apartment they shared with Kara for a good two month period (around the time when Eren and Selim finally entered coupledom), then probably spent almost every weekend for three years with these two, eating tacos and guacamole, munching on shrimps, gulping down spaghetti alle vongole, drinking spritz, well, eating and drinking just about anything good in sight, and enjoying our mid to late 20s together. They're the best travel companions, and while they provide true and solid shoulders to lean on, they are also dance king and queen posing as architect and graphic designer.
Love you E+S!
Aysegul Dincel
I know Eren from high school. She had the most unique and most fun to pronounce last name at Koc. I specially enjoyed rolling the R at the end. (I hope you keep your last name so that I don't have to refer to you with your actual name!) Eren Butlerrr makes living easier, people are drawn to her positivity and energy.
I'm so happy to be a part of this celebration of their union and I can't wait to see how these two creative minds will shape their future. As exciting as your lives are right now, living and travelling in Europe, I wish you even more excitement in the years to come...
You two make a great couple!
Bulut Cebeci
There is a place and time for everything and it's called college – also where I’ve met the bride & groom.
Long gone those days when Eren was a radical and Selim slightly more bohemian, but after all these years you’ve managed to retain the charm, fun, creativity and an enormous capacity of bringing people together.
Here’s to new beginnings!
Oodles of love and heaps of good wishes from your friendly FLAT C/ neighbour.
Burcu Yuksel
I met Eren and Selim when they were already a couple. But hearing of stories from friends who have known them since childhood, it always sounded like even when they were not "official", they were together.
So they were always together, and will be together and I am happy to be part of the family for many years to come.
Let's GO Bride's crew!!!
Carlos Garciavelez
I got to know Eren and Selimano during our time at RISD. Selim was my partner in crime while we had tacos and döner and lots of coffee (I don’t really drink coffee) through sleepless nights during architecture school and Eren was the beautiful lady that swept him of his feet to this new amazeballs life they now share.
Looking forward to being part of their new life for many decades to come. Lots of Love.
Ceyda Turan
Analyzing our “hayat meseleleri” on the phone for many long hours is what has made Erenim Butlerim one of my closest friends. I even might have influenced her decision to study psychology to be a better shrink to me! Also, we should not forget that commiserating over the math and economics assignments in high school makes us similar to “asker arkadasları”. When Eren became good friends with Selim 13 years ago and gave us the big news 8 years after (!!!) that they were finally dating, I remember thinking “true love persists.” I was going to send my Cleopatra photo but then I found this one I took at the Gate of Felicity and thought it might be more appropriate for the occasion!
Mutlu evlilikler :)
Deniz Kusefoglu
Eren and I shared a bed for two years... as in she was the bottom bunk to my top bunk when we were boarders at Koc. The bunk bed was a little fortress for me where I put up curtains and glow in the dark stars on the ceiling and read books past lights out with my miner's headlamp... sigh. Eren and I were bad once, and escaped school with a bunch of other girls, and her parents thought I was the bad influence, and I probably was, but it was her idea, I swear!!!
Eren taught me many important lessons, like how to dry my hair with a centripetal technique, and how to look impeccable always (I'm still working on that one). She's always been on solid ground deep inside of herself, it's the thing that's strong and rare that everyone notices about her, even if they can't put their finger on it.
I went to school with Selim for a moment, before I met Eren, but he was one of the cool kids a grade above me then.
I am now their proud friend and sailing instruct-ress!
Derin Uras
How do I know Selim? Well let’s see. We first met at a gay cruise. I was there accidentally. He was not :)
Joking aside, we’ve been longtime friends. I was even there for him when he got out of the mental asylum, since then he made great progress... He even managed to find the girl of his dreams! Eren and Selim couldn’t be more perfect for each other. I was lucky enough to witness their meet-cute at RC summer camp circa 1945. Yes. They are old!… And rest is history... Love you guys, Congrats!
Duygu Uras
Everyone calls her KIZ EREN
Right, she's loved by all men
Eventually SELIM stole her heart
Needless to say they lived happily ever after then!
Emre Demirel
We will always have Paris…
It was the summer of 2009 and I had just begun living my 26-years-long dream of renting a tiny studio in a marble French townhouse with a courtyard in Le Marais, literally the day after I quit my job in New York (ok, maybe just for the summer but who’s counting?). Selim, a friend and classmate in primary school turned brother in college, and Eren, a bubbly girl I once met in summer camp turned practically my mother (!) at Brown, were coming to visit me in this dream of mine, and guess what, they were now a couple! I had known and loved these guys individually for so long, but was about to meet the combination for the first time. I just can’t forget this memory of looking up outside Hôtel Le Clément and seeing Eren and Selim on that little red balcony overlooking Marché Saint-Germain, standing side by side with this big smile on their faces and a glimmer in their eyes that you could immediately tell this was a magical beginning, not just for them, but for us all.
So here is looking at you kids…
Eren Alphan
If I were to start a story with 'Once upon a time, when we were kids...' probably 10 out of the 9 stories I remember about Selim would be way too inappropriate to tell over here. But here's an idea! I've decided, until the wedding that I will collect my TOP 10 stories. I will then tell these stories at the wedding to the most unexpecting people with every single detail, making sure that the people I have chosen to share these stories are the ones that Selim would be most embarrassed about.
Thankfully, Eren (the beautiful one) knows most of them already! Bir yastıkta kocayın, öperim.
Esra Erkman Dilber
The first time I met Eren was pretty scarrry! That night haunted me for days and days afterwards. We were children, I had funny eyebrows and Eren had a braided rat-tail! Eren's family knew mine and they came over for dinner to our house. After dinner we decided to watch TV. Oh what a bad choice that was! Eren forced us to watch Poltergeist-3, the horrible most scary horror movie- in my memory anyway!!! I begged her not to watch it, but since she was Eren she convinced everyone! I could not sleep one bit that night keeping awake my parents too because I was convinced they were actually the evil souls disguised as my parents! Bravo Eren, that is my first memory of you :)))
And then we met again in college at Brown; Eren turned out to be one of the best best best things that happened to me at college! Rest is history...
Of course, I met Selim through Eren because they were such good friends (!?!) You guys were always soo soo good and right for each other as friends then, as lovers now, and I can very surely say as husband & wife in the very near future :)
I love you both so much! Be very very happy and always be in love!
Hande Zapsu Watt
I can't quite remember how old we were (10, maybe 11?) but when I first met Eren she sported a rather scary rat-tail and a lovely smile. I imagine our first encounter may very well have gone: Me: "You have a rat-tail." Eren: "Yes, yes, I do." Me: "We are now friends". Either way, after that moment our lives consisted of the usual young-female endeavours…we dyed our hair with cool aid, passed notes, wore short shorts, practiced dancing to Madonna for the school talent show, called into Capital Radio to play terrible songs, had sleepovers, passed more notes, made a string of terrible decisions concerning boys, got fake tattoos, listened to GreenDay, watched Friends, passed more notes, re-dyed our hair with cool aid (cool-aid was not rain resistant), and rubbed perfume tester pages in Seventeen Magazine on our wrists.
About twenty years later, everything is approximately the same. Except the bad decisions about boys. Eren finally made a great decision in that department :)
Selim - the name was in the ether long before I got to meet him. My first impression? He was hilarious! One of the sweetest and funniest guys I've ever met and after seeing Selim groove to cheesy 80's tunes on nights out in Istanbul, Athens and London I was completely convinced of his compatibility with Eren. Sweet, fun and full of energy the Eren-Selim combo is absolutely perfect! Their only problem? If they get famous in Hollywood, their name combos are terrible…ERSE? ERESEL? SEER? SELER… I'd go with SEER guys, its got a gypsy-voodoo thing going for it :)
Hazal Kaynak
I actually don't know them... They pay me well and the bride seems nice-r!
Well the truth is, the groom - one of my best men and one of my best friends, found the best woman... I love him, and I love her more! Bu dugun icin ve dugunden daha cok evliliginiz ve dogacak cocuklariniz ve cocuklarimizin arkadas olacak olmasi beni normal olmayan bir sekilde heyecanlandiriyor.
This is the highlight of my lifeeee, I love you guys!
Bring it on Groom's Crew... I'm ready for it all ;)
Karabekir Akkoyunlu
It's not easy to describe what this union means to me.
I feel like my brother is marrying my sister....
Wait a minute!
Kerim Bayer
Unfortunately, I cannot remember the blissful year and a half of my life before Selim was born. I've not had peace and quiet since. Eren, I am very grateful to you for snatching him away and getting him off my face. Now that you're moving back home, I can certainly help you deal with him :)
Kerim Uralli
First of all Eren is like an Angel and Selim is like a... cool bro (mostly). But beneath this crust, from the moment I met them in London, I thought of Eren and Selim similar to Spaghetti and Meatballs. They are GREAT individually, who can deny this? But together, oh together, they become a truly force of nature, delicious dish!!! I can’t have enough plates of it! I need more more more, I am becoming obese. I am ecstatic to know I will be having unlimited Spaghetti and Meatballs for the rest of my life! As a wise man (Mr. Selim) once said “Life is most like meatballs, sometimes good, sometimes not so good.” But Eren and Selim together, a true home run :) Thank you guys for blessing me with your sweetness, I love you guys so so much!
Kerim Polat
The first time I met Selim I wasn’t actually very fond of him. He was the first 'thing' I saw when I walked into the classroom. You can understand why I call him 'thing' since he was throwing desks and chairs to his friends. And that is the first memory of my high school days.
Now, when I look back I understand that it was his way of saying, “I love you”. He was destructive, obnoxious and kind of an asshole and I partially blame him for how I did so poorly in high school. Then I started seeing the good in this guy which made me a better person; because let’s face it, if you can see the good in Selim then you are definitely growing as a human being! When I finally got to actually 'know' him, I realised that he was very cool, just needed a bit of guidance and nurturing, that's all!
All jokes aside, from the moment I met you, you have been a wonderful friend and I’m so glad to have the privilege of sharing all these disgusting and most beautiful memories with you. I am so happy and proud of you for finding a girl like Eren, who embraces and enjoys the animal inside you and makes you a better ‘thing’ as she does with everything else she touches.
Laila Hammam Karalis
I met Eren in 6th grade when she had just come to IICS. She was sitting in front of me, with her rat-tail hair style, and all I could think was "who is this new girl, and where can I find scissors to cut that thing off?" We weren't the best of friends from the start, but as we grew up we got closer and closer. When she left IICS to go to Koc I didn't get to see her everyday anymore. We spent many nights on the phone chatting about anything and everything, Friday nights at Pupas, silver shopping in Ortakoy...the list goes on and on. Going to college meant moving even further apart, but luckily she ended up in Rhode Island and I went to New Hamsphire, which meant reunions were still possible, and we were in the same time zone! Then years later, we both ended up in London. It was great to finally be living in the same city again, and to be able to see each other as often as we wanted to. She is no longer just a friend, she is a sister! We have been through so much together over the years, and she has always been the ray of sunshine that she is.
Selim was ALWAYS in the picture! I knew of Selim long before I ever met him. For years Eren would talk about her friend Selim, and no matter how hard we all tried to get her to admit that there was something more there than just friendship, she would just laugh and playfully hit us and say "noooooo" in her cute little voice! When Eren and Selim moved into the same flat in London I knew there was finally hope of this twosome becoming a couple. This is where I finally really got to know Selim! The two of them slowly became inseparable, and the day Eren told me that they were dating, I was so happy for them, and I think my initial reaction was..."FINALLY"!!!! They are two awesome people who are meant to be together. They both bring out the best in each other, and are just so much fun to be around! I am so excited for this new chapter in their lives, and I couldn't be happier for them! Love you both!
Mehmet Kozlu
Just want to remind you that even 8 years ago when you insisted you were just “friends” we didn’t believed you for a second :) I’m so glad that you’ve finally found an angel to balance that little mischievous devil luring over your left shoulder. You guys have truly formed a great partnership and we feel privileged to be a part of this new chapter in your lives.
Mehmet AKA Kozlu
Noura
Eren filled my "Brown" days with color, ice cream and lots of laughter and confidence. I'm thrilled Selim captured her heart, for we were his cheerleaders from the days when they were "just friends". (The color refers to your ever changing hair color + vibrant personality, the ice cream to your living across from Ben & Jerry's (my favorite spot), and the laughter and confidence as genuine areas where you enriched my life).
LOVE YOU!
Seda Erkman
I met Eren when I was a kid. She made a huge impact on me when she made us watch Chucky in our living room when we were just kids. I was terrorized, and she just enjoyed it!!!! Our paths crossed again later in life, and she won my heart with her colorful, adventurous, bubbly and sincere personality. She’s been a wonderful friend, a confidant, and an indispensable part of my life. She always handed out her warm heart and support whenever I needed it the most, even if we were miles apart at times. I am forever grateful.
I met Selim in college as well. His good looks and humor made it easy to recognize him :) It didn’t take long to see how Selim and Eren made each other happy, or to put it in other words, how they were made for each other. They were partners in crime from the beginning. It was just a matter of time that they made it official :)
And now it’s that time; Congratulations you guys!!! You rock!!
Serpil Erol O'carroll
It's a rare occasion to find one great soul, let alone two.
One that lights up the room, with such radiance, even the leaves start dancing; makes you feel at home, like her best friend, her sister, separately and all at once. One who has the gift to connect with people in such a unique way that makes every individual feel special. With her meticulous and animated ways, transforms the dullest moments into ones to reminisce. My manga character, my orchid blossomer, her happiness, infectious;
And another that floats in a bubble of contentment so big that makes every sulking spirit beam with joy; giving reassurance that things are and will always be fine. His sincerity, kindness and bliss merged, make the strongest foundation for a home shared by his sole companion, as for two souls in union.
It's even rarer still when souls as such cross paths, walk side by side, hand in hand, as years go by, and they grow and change, in love, with love, and when they decide to tie the knots together, like they rehearsed unknowingly when both were much younger, it's certainly a rare occasion.
Eren and Selim's wedding, a very special one indeed.
Seyhan Musaoglu
I met Selim when our heights were so short we couldn't reach to press 10th floor in elevators and we thought Tarkan's "sıkıdım" was cool (don't ask =P) we would dance to it so amused and would play "dansa kaldırma" in a circle at school breaks. Later we were both in Koc School but Selim left a year later. Three years later Eren graced the school with her presence and had very rapidly earned the title "The Cool American Chick" transfer from IICS. Soon enough I had the chance to truly get to know her and see she was much more than just a cool gorgeous chick, but also caring, nourishing, cheerful, thoughtful.. (just much more than 'just' cool;) and that she would become one of the greatest friends I could have ever wished for, in my life.
Upon hearing this story, one could think that Eren and Selim could have easily met at school if only Selim had stayed at the same school, but you would be wrong. Since they were meant to be, they had already met each other in a summer camp long way back and although then it was more the beginnings of a strong, lifelong friendship; we have all seen it grow into a romance steadily... and eventually when they were finally an item it was a heartfelt joy we all felt. Many many years I have been with them, shared so many memories I cannot explain here. But I can say that they have been always with me no matter what the distance was both through good and bad, and I am so thankful for knowing/having them. And I know that them together is the omnipotence of love showing its grace to us earthlings.
So please don't make fun if you see me crying in the corner as they say yes to each other on the big day, it will be tears of excruciating happiness =D
Shehrazade Mazari
We were 12 years old the day Eren and I first met. I was new in school and she was asked to show me around. Eren was wearing a "stylish" Looney Tunes sweatshirt and her hairstyle of choice was a rat-tail (yes, it's a real thing and please Google it if you would like a visual). We have been great friends ever since and shared laughter, tears, adventures and many many more fashion faux pas including an obsession with glitter. I heard a lot about Selim, "Eren's best friend," over the years and our friends would constantly ask Eren whether they were finally together. So when we were exchanging our monthly catch up emails and Eren revealed excitedly that her and Selim were together, no one was surprised but we were all thrilled. I finally met Selim at our friend Laila's wedding in Greece and saw first hand how at ease they were with each other and how much they truly love each other. Their friendship laid a solid foundation for a strong, loving and lasting relationship and I can't wait to share their special day with them!
Soufi Esmaeilzadeh
I feel very lucky to tell you how I know Eren and Selim!
It’s been over 10 years now since I met them. We met while still in our teenage years, the start of our college experience. Eren and I quickly became friends, all part of a group of girls that spent way too many evenings laughing, dancing (perhaps having a few drinks ;)) at famous Cafe Paragon. I remember Selim as the friendly, artistic guy (if you went to RISD, you were an artistic genius in my book!!) that joined us out and was Eren’s good friend. After years of being in Providence together, Eren left the US but made occasional visits to NY that involved walking around the city, indulging in coffee and conversation, and again, nights out dancing - just like college! We stayed in close contact, and so I heard the love story that bloomed between Eren and Selim. It was obvious from the get go that they were the perfect fit! Besides hearing it from Eren, I knew it because in the year when Eren and I worked on an online business together, she never complained about him :-)
I love you both dearly and can’t wait to celebrate the two of you as husband and wife very very soon!
Stephanie Morin
Meeting Eren at Brown nearly 13 years ago was a blessing. She exuded positive energy and warmth, and could dance like nobody’s business, but I never imagined back then how much more colorful my life would be with her in it. We had ‘Friends’ marathons, weekly dinners, and disco parties in our living room, in the rain, snow, Istanbul rooftops and gritty Providence clubs. We sailed in Bodrum and scheduled regular coffee-therapy dates on Thayer Street (living together wasn’t sufficient), New York and London. I only regret not dressing up as each other on Halloween, as planned. There is still time!
Selim – the charming, talented Turkish architect who Eren swore in 2002 was only a “dear friend” – was also her avid fan. I remember the day when Eren complained that Selim’s then-girlfriend was less than thrilled with the eons of time they spent together (…shocker!!!). “She is SO unREAsonable”, Eren insisted. Yes, I thought, who WOULDN’T want their man hanging out 24/7 with their best-bud/hot graphic-designer/childhood crush?!! Years later during a lovely stroll through a park in London, Eren finally told me the “big news”: she and Selim had decided to give it a shot and she “couldn’t be happier”. Ta-da!! I am always right.
Ordinarily I would take this opportunity to threaten the groom with physical harm if he ever dared not to cherish and love Eren to bits. But Selim has been a member of team-Eren for even longer than me and I have zero doubt that he will do the possible and the impossible to make her happy.
“E + S”: Congratulations for embracing life together with gusto and gracing everyone else’s with so much joy! Can’t wait to shake it at your wedding. Tin tin.
Tef
Telli Nourkeyhani
Where do I begin?!… I suppose I could write about the good memories we’ve shared together over five years of life in London but that’ll turn into a book. I could write about how they’ve always come to my rescue whenever I needed help with something (like rushing on their scooter from the other side of town to get me some cash when my bank-card quit on me!!) but that’ll be enough material for Mission Impossible 6! Or I could go on and on about the many times I walked into their home thinking my world had come to an end and walked out with a smile realising life wasn’t that bad after all… Yes, I have a lot of reasons why Eren and Selim are so special to me. But if you know them, chances are you have enough reasons of your own already. So instead I’m gonna say why their love for each other is so special..
A lot of people find their soul mates and fall in love and I have seen two people made for each other many times before. What makes Eren and Selim different? They found happiness in being with each other and they share every bit of that happiness with the people around them. They have it all and share it all and that’s not something you come across everyday. I was lucky enough that my path crossed with theirs (I must have done something really good in my life!!) and I owe them some of the happiest memories of my life. And the day they get married will be one of them.
Yasha Butler Creighton
I am Eren's sister. I used to be her "Bir Numaralı Sevgili", but as you can see, I have been replaced with a caring, intelligent and strapping young man. Eren and I go waaaaay back. I have the privilege of saying that I have known her since the day she was born. Unlike most older sisters I was actually really excited to have a younger sister. I remember going to the hospital to see her for the first time and I was even allowed to hold her in my lap. At the time she was tiny and I thought she would always stay smaller than me. Unfortunately, I was wrong (what is up with all these younger sisters that are taller than their older sisters!?).
Having a sister has a lot of perks. When you are young, you can put on stupid plays together and force your family to watch them, you can create little markets in your own rooms and then buy the same things over and over again from each other and you can come up with some amazing synchronized dances to New Kids On the Block. When you get older, you can borrow each other's clothes, you can ask for each other's advise and you can cry on each other's shoulder. I think Eren is pretty much the awesomest, coolest and most-thoughtful sister out there and that makes me a very lucky person.
